HARD BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE
Matthew 19:23-26 NKJV
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Jesus had just finished a conversation with an earnest young man. The man wanted to know what he had to do to enter the eternal life that God offered. Jesus told him to keep the commandments and then spelled them out. When the man proclaimed he had kept those commandments ever since he was a youth, Jesus had another option for him. He suggested the young man sell his possessions and come follow Jesus. Jesus was giving this young man an opportunity to be one of Jesus’ disciples. Maybe not one of the twelve, but it was still a valuable invitation.
But the man balked. He was rich and had a great number of material possessions. And even though he wanted more and knew there was more for him spiritually, he wasn’t willing to go that far. He went away sad, and Jesus used this sad moment as a teaching time.
It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Now we’ll stop right there because people have taken those words to mean that if you are rich, you are locked out of heaven. But we know that after Jesus was raised from the dead, His instructions to His disciples were to go into all the world and preach the gospel. And the ones who believe the gospel, the good news about Jesus, would be saved. There was no qualifier or condition. It was believe or not believe. The good news is that regardless of a person’s status, financial position, race, or background, salvation is available to everyone in Christ. Rich, poor, married, single, smart, not so smart, God’s kingdom is there for all who believe.
So what is so hard for a rich person? The problem with the rich is that their riches mean nothing as far as God is concerned. Being rich on earth does not equate to special favor with God. Jesus spoke of a camel going through the eye of the needle. I have heard the eye of the needle best described as the small gate of a city where a camel would have to shed everything it was carrying and pretty much crawl through the small gate. This was a security feature for a city after hours. I am not completely sold on that explanation, but it does make sense from this standpoint. Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When we think of a sewing needle by ancient standards, even if they were bigger than our current needles, it would be impossible for a camel to fit through. Jesus did not say impossible. He said it would be hard. But there is the idea that a rich person has to humble himself and come to Jesus just as everyone else. So, figuratively speaking, the rich have to shed their riches and come to Christ as a sinner in need of salvation, not as a rich person with advantages.
In the Jewish mind, what Jesus said was mind-boggling. The Jews often equated riches with spirituality. So if the rich had a hard time, then who could be saved? Ah, but Jesus had the answer. The things impossible with man are possible with God. God made a way beyond what the disciples could imagine. And that way is still available today.
APPLICATION
Paul wrote to Timothy, a young pastor, and told him to encourage the rich in this present world to not be haughty or trust in their riches. Paul did not tell Timothy that the rich needed to give away all their possessions in order to be saved. Paul did say that the rich were to be rich in good works, and this would be a good foundation for the time to come. So if you are rich, don’t despair, do share.
I wonder what happened to the rich young man. Maybe he adjusted later and realized his possessions were not the most important thing in his life. We can’t be too hard on him. We constantly have to check our hearts so that other things do not take precedent over our relationship with the Lord. It may be hard to do, but it’s not impossible.
PRAYER
Help me, Lord, to not have anything stand between You and me and Your will for my life.